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INSIDE
USC tailback LenDale White entered the NFL Draft Wednesday. 12
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
.dailytrojan.com
January 12, 2006
Vol. CXLVII1, No. 3
USC bookstore fixture dies on New Year's Day
Laura Mitchell was known for her work ethic, her faith and her fun-loving attitude.
By TAYLOR SEUAS
Staff Writer
Laura Higgins Mitchell, an employee of the accounting and finance department of TrojanBookstores since 1975, died Jan. 1. She was 55.
Mitchell, who fought sickle cell anemia throughout her life, went into Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Walnut
Creek, Calif., early Sunday morning with shortness of breath. Doctors believe that her death resulted from respiratory failure, said Bill Higgins, one of Mitchell’s brothers.
Family members and colleagues at the university who knew Mitchell described her as a loving person.
"She was like a shepherd to us all and looked out for her flock," Higgins said.
“She was very maternal. She has a son about the same age or a little older than me. For me she was a mother figure, warm and compassionate,” said
Christine Rodriguez, who met Mitchell while working as an accounting technician at TrojanServices.
People who remember Mitchell said that, above all things, she valued her family, friends, job and faith.
Shirley Oliver, one of Mitchell’s sisters, said that "her loving care for her family" stood out prominently.
“I live in Virginia, and we talked weekly," Oliver said. “I’ll remember her love for her family and how she adored her friends. She had lots of friends."
Mitchell also spent weeknights
I see Mitchell page 3 I
Photo courtesy of Sharon Adamson
Veteran. Laura Mitchell was a long-time employee in the finance depart ment of the USC bookstore. Her funeral service is 10 a.m. today.
Senate will discuss possible budget cuts
In the coming weeks, Senate will discuss cutting stipends and pulling funding from the Greek Student Assembly.
By JOANNA UN
Staff Writer
Student Senate's latest budget recommendations for the 2006-2007 school year call for at least $20,000 in savings, drawn mainly by slowing the inflation of Senate stipends and by eliminating funding for the Greek Student Assembly.
“This isn’t a final decision — it’s a recommendation, and this was just the best way we saw to increase efficiency,"
said Mike Orazi. Senate treasurer and member of the Student Programming Fee Control Board.
The control board — a group composed of Senate and Program Board members and one unaffiliated student — evaluates use of the Student Programming Fee and Senate’s budget The board’s report which is under review in Student Affairs, suggests that Senate tie its stipend growth to inflation, allowing it to save about $5,000. Stipends currently increase at the
rate of tuition inflation, which rises more rapidly than the Consumer Price Index for the urban Los Angeles area.
Under the recommendation, sti-penda in 2006 would be pegged at time
in 2005 and would increase thereafter according to CPI.
"The workload (in Senate) doesn't change year to year, duties don't increase," and office hours remain the same, said Senate President Jessica Lall.
Lall said she accepts the board's stipends recommendation and noted the proposal’s fairness.
“The president shouldn't get an exorbitant amount of money for working 20 hours a week when there are
students on other parts of the campus working just as hard and not getting as much," she said.
But likewise, "stipends ... allow officer* and leadership (tn Senate) to not
have to have jobs," said Chase Tajima, Senate vice president “I know the stipend has allowed me to fully dedicate myself to my position.”
There are "other ways we can cut waste in Student Senate," mainly by “evaluating which positions are necessary," Tajima said.
Senate could also reduce administrative and publicity costs and re-evaluate the need for assemblies to determine I see Senate page 3 I
Talk about faith. Dolce Wang, the founder of the Spiritual Explorations Group, passes out information and talks to students at Wednesday's involvement fair on Trousdale Parkway.
Student group explores faith, spiritual issues
The Spiritual Explorations Group aims to help students learn about new philosophies.
ByJOME 0XMAN
Staff Writer
In an environment with a multitude of different religions, cultures and beliefs, it is sometimes difficult for students to explore faith and spirituality safely and without criticism, but a new group hopes to give students that opportunity.
In the Spiritual Explorttion Group, students are encour aged to learn and explore particular faiths and topics of interest within the areas of religion, ethics end philosophy
SEG became an official group on campus in the spring of 2005. Dolce Wang, one of SEG's student leaders, said that the group has been running smoothly with help and support from Dean of Religious Life Rabbi Susan I-aemmle. Associate Dean the Rev Elizabeth Davenport and group adviser Carolyn Stirling.
The group is focused on challenging stereotypes that might exist in various faiths and testing one s own beliefs One goal is to allow students to explore different faiths and beliefs without the pressure to practice or convert.
Students of all faiths are welcome to attend weekly meetings, where organizers hope that attendees are presented with the possibility of expanding their perspectives and learning about other viewpoints.
I see page 3
WEATHER
Today: Sunny. High 70, low 50
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. High 71, low 51.
Officials discuss abandoned baby law
The American media 's double standards hurt everyone. ♦
Language program helps USC-bound students. 5
Newj Difnt______2 Lifestyle------- •
Upcoming________2 Cliuified*-------•
Opinion*........4 Sport*-.-.......12
Only 10 of the 56 infants abandoned in Los Angeles County since 1999 survived.
By JOSHUA SHARP
Staff Writer
Since California’s Safely Surrendered Baby Law went into effect in 2001, Los Angeles County has reported 32 safe surrenders, according to a county Web site.
The law, which was signed by Gov. Gray Davis, allows mothers to anonymously drop off their newborn within 72 hours of birth at designated locations, including some fire stations and any hospital.
There has been new discussion about the law after USC junior Holly Ashcraft, 21, was arrested in October and charged with murder and child
I see Baby, page 3
INDEX

INSIDE
USC tailback LenDale White entered the NFL Draft Wednesday. 12
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
.dailytrojan.com
January 12, 2006
Vol. CXLVII1, No. 3
USC bookstore fixture dies on New Year's Day
Laura Mitchell was known for her work ethic, her faith and her fun-loving attitude.
By TAYLOR SEUAS
Staff Writer
Laura Higgins Mitchell, an employee of the accounting and finance department of TrojanBookstores since 1975, died Jan. 1. She was 55.
Mitchell, who fought sickle cell anemia throughout her life, went into Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Walnut
Creek, Calif., early Sunday morning with shortness of breath. Doctors believe that her death resulted from respiratory failure, said Bill Higgins, one of Mitchell’s brothers.
Family members and colleagues at the university who knew Mitchell described her as a loving person.
"She was like a shepherd to us all and looked out for her flock," Higgins said.
“She was very maternal. She has a son about the same age or a little older than me. For me she was a mother figure, warm and compassionate,” said
Christine Rodriguez, who met Mitchell while working as an accounting technician at TrojanServices.
People who remember Mitchell said that, above all things, she valued her family, friends, job and faith.
Shirley Oliver, one of Mitchell’s sisters, said that "her loving care for her family" stood out prominently.
“I live in Virginia, and we talked weekly," Oliver said. “I’ll remember her love for her family and how she adored her friends. She had lots of friends."
Mitchell also spent weeknights
I see Mitchell page 3 I
Photo courtesy of Sharon Adamson
Veteran. Laura Mitchell was a long-time employee in the finance depart ment of the USC bookstore. Her funeral service is 10 a.m. today.
Senate will discuss possible budget cuts
In the coming weeks, Senate will discuss cutting stipends and pulling funding from the Greek Student Assembly.
By JOANNA UN
Staff Writer
Student Senate's latest budget recommendations for the 2006-2007 school year call for at least $20,000 in savings, drawn mainly by slowing the inflation of Senate stipends and by eliminating funding for the Greek Student Assembly.
“This isn’t a final decision — it’s a recommendation, and this was just the best way we saw to increase efficiency,"
said Mike Orazi. Senate treasurer and member of the Student Programming Fee Control Board.
The control board — a group composed of Senate and Program Board members and one unaffiliated student — evaluates use of the Student Programming Fee and Senate’s budget The board’s report which is under review in Student Affairs, suggests that Senate tie its stipend growth to inflation, allowing it to save about $5,000. Stipends currently increase at the
rate of tuition inflation, which rises more rapidly than the Consumer Price Index for the urban Los Angeles area.
Under the recommendation, sti-penda in 2006 would be pegged at time
in 2005 and would increase thereafter according to CPI.
"The workload (in Senate) doesn't change year to year, duties don't increase," and office hours remain the same, said Senate President Jessica Lall.
Lall said she accepts the board's stipends recommendation and noted the proposal’s fairness.
“The president shouldn't get an exorbitant amount of money for working 20 hours a week when there are
students on other parts of the campus working just as hard and not getting as much," she said.
But likewise, "stipends ... allow officer* and leadership (tn Senate) to not
have to have jobs," said Chase Tajima, Senate vice president “I know the stipend has allowed me to fully dedicate myself to my position.”
There are "other ways we can cut waste in Student Senate," mainly by “evaluating which positions are necessary," Tajima said.
Senate could also reduce administrative and publicity costs and re-evaluate the need for assemblies to determine I see Senate page 3 I
Talk about faith. Dolce Wang, the founder of the Spiritual Explorations Group, passes out information and talks to students at Wednesday's involvement fair on Trousdale Parkway.
Student group explores faith, spiritual issues
The Spiritual Explorations Group aims to help students learn about new philosophies.
ByJOME 0XMAN
Staff Writer
In an environment with a multitude of different religions, cultures and beliefs, it is sometimes difficult for students to explore faith and spirituality safely and without criticism, but a new group hopes to give students that opportunity.
In the Spiritual Explorttion Group, students are encour aged to learn and explore particular faiths and topics of interest within the areas of religion, ethics end philosophy
SEG became an official group on campus in the spring of 2005. Dolce Wang, one of SEG's student leaders, said that the group has been running smoothly with help and support from Dean of Religious Life Rabbi Susan I-aemmle. Associate Dean the Rev Elizabeth Davenport and group adviser Carolyn Stirling.
The group is focused on challenging stereotypes that might exist in various faiths and testing one s own beliefs One goal is to allow students to explore different faiths and beliefs without the pressure to practice or convert.
Students of all faiths are welcome to attend weekly meetings, where organizers hope that attendees are presented with the possibility of expanding their perspectives and learning about other viewpoints.
I see page 3
WEATHER
Today: Sunny. High 70, low 50
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. High 71, low 51.
Officials discuss abandoned baby law
The American media 's double standards hurt everyone. ♦
Language program helps USC-bound students. 5
Newj Difnt______2 Lifestyle------- •
Upcoming________2 Cliuified*-------•
Opinion*........4 Sport*-.-.......12
Only 10 of the 56 infants abandoned in Los Angeles County since 1999 survived.
By JOSHUA SHARP
Staff Writer
Since California’s Safely Surrendered Baby Law went into effect in 2001, Los Angeles County has reported 32 safe surrenders, according to a county Web site.
The law, which was signed by Gov. Gray Davis, allows mothers to anonymously drop off their newborn within 72 hours of birth at designated locations, including some fire stations and any hospital.
There has been new discussion about the law after USC junior Holly Ashcraft, 21, was arrested in October and charged with murder and child
I see Baby, page 3
INDEX